About The Youth Advisory Board

"Hey folks!"

Thanks for dropping by! You could be anywhere in the world right now, and you’ve decided that you are passionate enough about changing the world of education and impacting student achievement to stop by this site.

Started in 2006, the Board has funded more than

$20.7 million

to unique, youth-led service-learning projects, affecting an estimated

13.9 million people!

The State Farm® Youth Advisory Board (YAB), made up of 30 amazing 17-20-year-old students from across the United States and Canada, has already stepped forward to lead this movement. State Farm pledges $5 million per year to this signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to State Farm and communities across the United States and Canada. Now a little bit about the Board itself. The Board is made up of an amazing, diverse group of students selected from applicants across the United States and Canada. Even though they are full-time students at high schools and universities from Alabama to Ontario – (Roll Tide, Canada!) – Each member commits about 15 hours a month to the Board and participates in three face-to-face meetings per calendar year.

State Farm divides the United States and Canada into 13 zones. Each of those is represented by a Board member and an Associate Board member. Yes, I know that only 26 members.....and we have 30. The YAB also includes two Corporate Board members that hail from Central Illinois, and two at-large Enterprise members.

What is service-learning exactly? It might sound complicated, but it’s really quite simple. Basically, it is the integrating of meaningful community service back into real classroom curriculum, and it’s a method that has been proven effective to increase student engagement and impact student achievement. If you’d still like more information, please see our ‘Partners’ tab, and check out our service-learning partners’ websites. They’ve got TONS of cool stuff over there. (But stay here as long as you want.)

Finally, who am I? I’m Brad Corriher, and I have the extreme blessing and privilege of overseeing the YAB’s day-to-day operations, though as they remind me every day “I work for them, not the other way around.” I’m not that old; I obtained my Bachelor’s degree at Duke University in May 2010. I might be an old man to the YAB, but I'm 23.  Additionally and awesomely, I served on the founding Youth Advisory Board in 2006-07, and am extremely excited to have come full circle to ride along with the YAB on this incredible journey. I am humbled each day by the accomplishments and abilities of this empowered group of young people. 

Brad Corriher

Public Affairs - National Programs Team, State Farm

Brad's Bio